Loose-leaf binder



G. P. BAUMANN AND H. A'. FINK.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 5, 1918- Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

eo'lr'rrarnn r. BAUMANN, or CHICAGO, AND BAIQPHIA. FINK, or OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Gor'rrnmn P. BAU- MANN and RALPH A. FINK OltlZBHS of the United States, residing at Chicago and Oak Park, respectively, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Loose- Leaf Binders, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Our invention relates'to loose leaf binders, an object being to provide a simple and improved device of this character in which the loose leaves or sheets are securely held closed position and with some sheets in place;

Fig. 2 is a view looking at the inside of the binder and with the binding mechanism closed but the cover open;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the binding mechanism opened;

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the hinge along the line 4, 4c of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an edgeview of the binder with its cover open as in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the binder as shown in Fig. 3; and.

' Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the hinge shaft and locking dog.

Referring now more in general to the preferred form of our invention as shown in the accompanying drawing, it consists of the usual cover, and hinged binder mechanism supplied with prongs or studs which enter the holes in the sheets, the binder mechanism being locked by meansofa looking dog carried upon the shaft of the binder hinge.

More particularly our invention comprises a cover 1 having a flexible back or connecting portion 2, which may be of any usual and well-known construction.

A binder mechanism is secured to the cover 1 and consists preferably of a hinged member including the. two portions 3 and fl: which are suitably secured to the binder Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 26 1921 Application filed July 5, 1918. Serial No. 243,276.

cover preferably by rivets 5. These hinge portions 3, 4: are connected together preferably by means of a shaft 6, which extends through the curled portions 7 of the mem bers 8, 4. so that the hinge may be readily opened and closed by rotating about the shaft 6.

A suitable number of paper engaging elements are provided, these being preferably in the form of tapered studs 8 which are rigidly secured to the hinge and suitably curved so that they will readily enter and leave the punched holes in the sheets which are bound.

It is to be understood that although we have shown four such studs 8, two entering the sheets from each side, the number of such holding studs may be varied as desired and in accordance with the size of the binder. The larger binders would, no doubt, require more studs than the smaller binders.

In order to lock the binder in its closed position we preferably provide locking means in the form of a double dog 9 which is rigidly attached to the hinge shaft 6 and carries locking elements preferably in the form of two extensions 9 and 9 which are adapted to engage the outer face of the hinge parts 3 and 4 as shown in Fig. 5, and by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. It will be apparent that with the dog securely attached to the shaft and with its extensions 9 and 9 under the opposite parts 3 and 1 of the hinge, the hinge is held locked inits closed position. In order to maintain the dog normally in its locking position we preferably provide a spring 10 which encircles the shaft 6 and is compressed between an edge llof the hinge and the dog 9 so that the spring normally presses the dog into locking position as shown in Fig. 2., k

Now in order to manipulate the locking dog 9 so as to permit opening the binder mechanism,'we provide a small unlocking device in the form of a knurled nut 12 which is rigidly secured to the shaft 6. By pressing upon the outer face of the nut 12 when in the normal locking position as indicated in Fig. 2, the shaft 6 and locking dog 9 are moved longitudinally until the locking arms 9 and 9 are clear of the edges 13 and 14; of the hinge members as shown in Fig. 3, at which time the hinge may be opened to its sheet removing position as indicated in Fi s. 8 and 6.

s soon as the opening movement of the hinge is started and when the dog arm' 9 has rotated past the edge 14 of the hinge,

pressure of the finger upon the nut 12 is removed allowing the arm 9 to rest against the edge 13. But having passed out of its normal locking position a continued opening movement of the hinge is permitted.

Now in order to prevent such rotation of the shaft 6 as might throw the dog 9 out of its proper alinement, we preferably provide a slot 12 in the nut 12 which slot rides over the edge 3 of the hinge portion 3. This slot permits a longitudinal movement of the shaft 6but prevents any undue relative rotary movement of the hinge and shaft so that the dog 9 is always maintained in its proper relationto-the hinge.

In order to close the hinge from its open position as shown in Fig. 6, it is only necessary to grasp the cover of the binder, or manipulate the hinge so as to rotate it about the shaft until it reaches the closed position of the binder at which time the dog is automatically pressed into its locking position by the action of the spring 10.

Thus it will be seen that we have provided a simple and inexpensive loose leaf binder in which we preferably employ the shaft of the binder hinge for carryingthe locking element and through which the locking element may be manipulated. Furthermore all of the parts are rigidly supported so that there is no undue play and therefore the parts will always properly register.

shaft for automatically Although we have chosen a preferred form for the purpose of illustrating our invent1on,it will be apparent that many changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art and therefore we ture as shown and described but aim to cover all .that which comes within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim 1. A loose leaf binder comprising a hinged back, including a shaft for the hinge, and a spring pressed looking dog carried by the locking the hinge when the binder is closed. i

2. A loose leaf binder comprising a hinged back, including a shaft for the hinge, a spring pressed locking dog on said shaft for automatically looking the hinge when the binder is closed, and means for manipulating the shaft to unlock the dog.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising a hinged back, including a shaft for the hinge, a looking dog carried by the shaft, means for manipulating the shaft to unlock the dog whereby the binder may be opened, and means for automatically moving the shaft and dog into locking engagement when the binder is closed. 7

4. A loose leaf binder comprising a hinged back, including a shaft for the hinge, a looking dog carried by the shaft. means for back, including a shaft for the hinge, a locking dog carried by the shaft, means. for

manipulating the dog to unlock the hinge whereby the binder may be opened, means for automatically moving the dog into locking engagement when the binder is closed,

and rigid studs carried upon opposed sides of the hinge and adapted to enter the sheets from opposite sides. V

V 7. A loose leaf binder comprising a cover, atwo piece hinge having opposed sides secured to the cover, and including a longitudinally movable shaft for the hinge, a locking dog carried by the shaft for engagement withthe back faces of opposed sides .of the hinge, and means whereby the shaft may be moved longitudinally to disengage the dog from the hinge whereby the hinge maybeopened. V e

8. A loose leafbinder comprising a cover, a two piece hinge having opposed sides secured to the cover, and including a longitudinally movable shaft for the hinge, a locking dog carried by the shaft for engagement with the hinge, means whereby the shaft may be moved longitudinally to disengage the dog from the hinge whereby the i hinge may be opened, and means for automatically effecting a locking engagement of the dog and hinge when the hinge is closed.

t :9. Ahinge for loose leaf binders com prising the two attachingparts, a locking dog movable longitudinally of a the hinge axis and having an armadapted to engage one of the parts to hold. the hinge closed,

means to prevent rotation of the dog while.

the hinge is closed, and means for moving the dog longitudinally to an unlocked position.

'10. loose leaf binder comprising a hinged back, including a shaft for the hinge,

anda locking dog carried by the shaft for engaging the back side of a hinge portion to lock the hinge.

11. A loose leaf binder comprising Y a hinged back, including a shaft for the hinge,

and a locking dog mounted on said shaft and engaging the back side of the hinge to lock the same.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 19th day of June, A. D.,

1918. i GOTTFRIED P. BAUll/iANN. RALPH A. FINK. 

